I understand that but it would help to know what is required and the cost becuase that makes it more then civil but also econmic/class right.Since my understanding of it tells me it's cheeper for str8s to marry then for others to get civil unions and/or other rights that come with marriage.

Generally speaking, there are over 1300 rights afforded to married couples. Civil unions and domestic partnerships are not close to that and differ in individual states and municipalities. Rules for such registrations of civil unions and domestic partnerships also differ by state and municipality.

I understand that but bI would like to hear from those that have been thorugh this say what they had to do and what it cost in time and money.As long as the argument is focused on religion it going to go slow but if we focus on the legal part it might go a little quicker.

Tiller 66 has a great point and this is how I've always felt. I don't give a tinker's damn if they call it Marriage, Civil Union or Ass Cheese. Just don't hit me in my fucking wallet. I'm tired of my taxes as a single professional going to 14 year old single crack whores with 5 kids on these fucking WIC programs, yet I don't see a dime for all my hard work. Never taken a sick or a maternity day in my life, yet we have to pick up the slack for the heteros. I don't mind the straights, I just don't want them pushing their lifestyle onto me. Sound familiar?

Now I'm ranting. Mental note: stop taking Ambien and posting on Realjock at the same time.

As far as differences in domestic partnership and marriage in California .. here is a good wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_partnership_in_California#Differences_from_Marriage * Couples seeking domestic partnership must already share a residence, married couples may be married without living together. * Couples seeking domestic partnership must be 18 or older, minors can be married before the age of 18 with the consent of their parents. * California permits married couples the option of confidential marriage, there is no equivalent institution for domestic partnerships. In confidential marriages, no witnesses are required and the marriage license is not a matter of public record. * Married partners of state employees are eligible for the CalPERS long-term care insurance plan, domestic partners are not. * There is, at least according to one appellate ruling, no equivalent of the Putative Spouse Doctrine for domestic partnerships.

1. Both persons have a common residence. 2. Neither person is married to someone else or is a member of another domestic partnership with someone else that has not been terminated, dissolved, or adjudged a nullity. 3. The two persons are not related by blood in a way that would prevent them from being married to each other in California. 4. Both persons are at least 18 years of age. 5. Either of the following: * Both persons are members of the same sex. * The partners are of the opposite sex, one or both of whom is above the age of 62, and one or both of whom meet specified eligibility requirements under the Social Security Act. 6. Both persons are capable of consenting to the domestic partnership.